My cats annoy me. They disturb my sleep, they want attention, they demand food which they then disdain, they throw up, they cost me money and devour my time. But among the worst of their sins is that they use their litter-boxes. Yes! They amble into the store-room, step into the boxes and do what they are supposed to do. It’s enough to drive me to distraction!
Let me explain. My cats are, for the most part, very clean in their habits. What little cannot be considered clean, such as scattering litter on the floor, I minimize with precautions. They are regular and conscientious. They are hygienic. But they use their litter-boxes - immediately after I scoop them!
I rid the boxes of waste thrice daily, once in the morning, again in the late afternoon or early evening, and, finally, before bed. When a particularly stinky deposit has been made, I go to work with a scoop even more often. Sometimes, I wash out the boxes.
And then, one or more of the animals heads directly to the boxes and messes in them again. This can happen seconds after I finish. Not infrequently, the beasts appear to be waiting for me to complete my chore. The whole process of sweeping the store-room floor and scooping the boxes, putting the debris in a bag to throw out or flushing it down the toilet is obviated. I must do it again, as if I had not done it already. You can understand from this just how malicious my pets are.
They do use the boxes. And they sometimes remember to cover the results. They clean themselves and only rarely does a big bummed cat hang her rear over the entrance and miss. I am lucky that they have so few issues with the habit. Things are pretty good at my home.
But immediately after I scoop? Really?
mom has seen this...usually it is the evil foster kittens that line up, watch her clean and then they ALL have to suddenly pee
ReplyDeleteHa, of course! I wonder if it's to re-mark their boxes. But then, don't we humans prefer a clean toilet? :-)
ReplyDeleteBesides, think of it as your stretching routine--all the bending, scooping, etc. Exercise! LOL.
All that bending has given me the pain in the lower back I have now. How do I claim that on insurance?
DeleteJust think of it as a gesture of appreciation for all your hard work, John!
ReplyDeleteOr as yet another sign of how utterly they dominate us. Dunno.
I could use less appreciation...
DeleteAs you noticed, John, a pet-parent's work is never done!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm never short of things to do, that's for sure.
DeleteGosh I can't imagine how tough it is. It grossed me out just cleaning out Miss Pops box when she had one, so bless you for doing the boxes for your whole gang. Luckily Miss Pops has an outside garden to do her business in.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it always the way! I'm sure they keep watching and waiting to swoop.
ReplyDeleteYOu know, Boo does the exact same thing, as soon as I scoop the litter box in the morning she runs in and uses it!
ReplyDeleteDon't you prefer to use a freshly cleaned bathroom?
ReplyDeleteI do, and I'd like someone to clean it thrice a day for me, too!
DeleteMy cats do the same and sometimes the little brats go in the box before I fill it- I have a lot of boxes to clean/refill and it takes quite some time.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! My two watch me scoop & then a mad rush to see who gets in first.
ReplyDeleteI just have to laugh! My Jessica would wait until I cleaned her box - wash, dry and fill with fresh litter - and then quietly enter position herself with her face - with the "litter box" expression and calmly use it. Every time I cleaned it!
ReplyDelete